iPhone 16 Pro 5x telephoto camera
Patrick Holland/CNETWhen I compare photos that I took with the iPhone 16 Pro with those from the iPhone 15 Pro, they look identical at first glance. When I zoom in closely, images from the 16 Pro don't look as oversharpened as ones from the 15 Pro, and people's complexions look more natural in 16 Pro photos with even skin tones. But you'll notice a bigger difference in camera quality if you're comparing the iPhone 16's camera with an older phone like the iPhone 12's.
Watch this: iPhone 16 Pro 4K 120fps Slow Motion Video Test
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In my original iPhone 16 Pro review, I emphasized how much I like the new 4K 120 frames per second slow-motion video recording option. I still think it's one of the best new iPhone features in years. Even after a month, I use it quite a bit.
I even dabbled with the ProRes version, which provides more detail and better dynamic range (although the files are much larger and may require an external SSD). For everyday stuff, I love using slow-mo -- it really does make pretty much anything look more compelling.
A new iPhone is only as good as its software. While Apple Intelligence may get all the hype, I find iOS 18 to be wonderful for plenty of other reasons. There are so many useful and intuitive features like being able to add new tap back reactions, including emojis, to a conversation, the new Passwords app and the wide beam flashlight.
Perhaps one of the truly life-changing features is the ability to send iMessages and SMS messages via satellite to friends and loved ones when you don't have a cell signal or Wi-Fi.
I wasn't a fan of the new Photos app at first because it involved learning a new layout. But now that I've been using it regularly, it's grown on me because I can find a photo that I'm looking for much faster.
One of my favorite iOS 18 tools is the ability to hide distractions using the Reader tool in Safari, which makes it possible to remove ads, pop ups and videos on webpages. There is an animation that shows the ad, or whatever you chose to hide, vanishing into particles like you're Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. Snap, and that ad is gone. Snap, and that video is gone.
My recommendations for who should buy an iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max haven't changed from my review. If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or older, upgrade if you can afford it. It's going to feel new in every way. Otherwise, if you have a 13 Pro or 14 Pro that's in good condition, you can afford to hold onto your device for now. We'll have to wait to see whether that changes when Apple Intelligence arrives.
Source: cnet.com